The Superiority of Truth and Beauty in 'Station Eleven' Ananya Arun 12th Grade

Emily St John Mandel’s novel, ‘Station Eleven’, demonstrates the negative impacts of idolising success and indicates that truth and beauty are more fulfilling. She implies that inauthenticity blinds society from valuing art and connection which prohibits individuals from finding their purpose. Truth and beauty strengthen the connection between individuals and ultimately provide them with hope for a better world, acting as a foundation for communities to grow.

Mandel asserts that truth and beauty are obscured by the inauthenticity of the modern world. During the pre-flu world, superficial success was deemed more important than connection, effectively damaging individuals lives. Arthur is established as someone who lacks authenticity. His acting career consumes his life to such an extent that it changes his original identity. Mandel uses the motif of snow to contrast between authenticity and inauthenticity. As Arthur died, he noticed the “snow was falling all around him… he thought it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen”. His identity changes as he cannot distinguish between the “blurring of the boundaries”, that represents how he is erasing his original identity to conform to societal expectations. As he fails to...